Sen. Nathan Dahm has filed three proposals to protect the Second Amendment rights of Oklahomans to keep and bear arms. Dahm said the Constitution provides clear protections to gun owners, but if lawmakers are not diligent, those protections can easily come under attack by proponents of big government.

“Oklahomans understand that the right to keep and bear arms is intrinsic to our cultural identity,” said Dahm, R-Broken Arrow. “Our nation’s founders intended the Second Amendment to protect the right of individuals to own guns, and it is critical for lawmakers to be diligent in our protection of that right. This legislation furthers our efforts to protect Oklahomans from federal overreach.”

Dahm has filed Senate Bill 548, the Second Amendment Preservation Act, legislation that will protect the right of Oklahomans to keep and bear arms by opposing all unconstitutional laws, orders, or regulations imposed by the federal government that violate the individual right to keep and bear arms as guaranteed in the Second Amendment.

Also filed by Dahm, Senate Bill 401 states that licensed gun owners who have not been convicted of a felony will not be charged with a felony for possessing a weapon in a Gun-Free School Zone. The measure will close a loophole created by federal law, and protect law-abiding Oklahomans from wrongfully being charged with a felony.

Senate Bill 552 will allow any Oklahoman 21 years of age or older, and who is not a convicted felon, to keep a pistol in their vehicle for the purpose of self-defense.

“When we were sworn in, we took an oath to support and uphold the Constitution, and I intend to do just that,” Dahm said. “A broad majority of Oklahomans oppose gun restrictions, and expect their elected officials to defend their Second Amendment rights. With federal authorities currently considering gun restrictions, we must be diligent.”

Sen. Nathan Dahm and Rep. Mike Ritze plan to ensure the Legislature stands up for the rights of Oklahomans and remains committed to preventing the provisions of Obamacare from taking effect.

Dahm and Ritze have filed Senate Bill 203 and House Bill 1021, proposals which will nullify the provisions of Obamacare in Oklahoma. Dahm said health care operates best as an enterprise, not as a birthright.

“Depriving citizens of the right to make their own choices about health care runs contrary to American ideals,” said Dahm, R-Broken Arrow. “If we want a health care system that is innovative, efficient, and controls costs, we need to allow the free market to work. Health care is not a right, it is an enterprise, and it works best with fewer market distortions and the incentive to improve the services it offers customers.”

“Taking this enterprise and turning it into a government bureaucracy will remove the incentive for advancements in American health care, just as it has everywhere else this experiment has been tried.”

Ritze said the federal health care law is unwelcome in Oklahoma.

“Oklahomans have clearly indicated that they would prefer a different approach to health care than the federal law offers,” Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, said. “I think we have the tools to improve the health care system in Oklahoma without involvement from the federal government.”